Electric switch



F. W. KURTZ.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 001212, 1909.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

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FRIDOLIN W. KURTZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SWITCH Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

Application filed October 12,1909. Serial No. 522,291.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIooLIN W. KURTZ, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in

the county, city, and State of New York,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvenient in'Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that form of electric switch which is employed to bring intoand tocarry out of operation in an required order or sequence either the individual lights of a series, or the individual cir cuits of lights, when a number of circuits are employed, and is especially useful in halls, offices, and stores, as well as in hotels and apartment houses, where it is desirable to vary at different times'the number of the individual lights in theone case or the individual circuits in the other, that are to be operated; the object of the invention being to simplify the construction of switches of this 0 ara'cter, and to produce a device, which, while more efiicient in operation than those heretofore employed, shall, at the same time, be more convenient in use.

To these ends the invention consists, in certain peculiarities of construction and combinations of parts, of which the form preferred in practice will first be hereinafter specifically described, and the features of the invention then pointed out in the subjoined claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

which form a part of this specification, Figshowing a number of electric lights with" their appropriate electric circuits; Fig. 2, an edge view thereof partly" in section and partly in elevation, the sectional portion being taken in the plane a: w of Fig. 1, and

- looking in the direction of the arrows in that figure; Fig, 3, a side elevation of the circuit closing arm with parts broken away for convenienc'e of illustration; Fig. 4, a transverse section of the circuit closing arm taken in the plane y 3 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows in that figureyFig. 5, a plan View of a portion of the circuit closing arm broken away; Fig. 6, is a transverse section of a circuit controlling arm of a slightly modified construction, also taken in the plane 1 y of Fig. 3 and similarly looking in the direction of the arrows in that figure, and Fig. 7, a vertical transverse sec tion of the base and rings of a slightly modified construction, likewise taken inthe line as m of Fig. 1, and showing a portion of the circuit closing arm and the stud upon which it is mounted in elevation.

In all the figures, like letters of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts.

A indicates a suitable base, and B, 13 ,13 and B indicate a series of rings which are fixedly secured to the base 1n concentric. relationship to one another, with a narrowspace. intervening between the adjacent rings. In the construction-of this baseany appropriate material that is suited for the purpose may be employed. 1 It'is referred however to construct it of slate, g ass, fiber or the like, and to provide it with apertures a, through which, and appropriate screws, it may be secured in place. The rings B, B B and 13 ,011 the other hand, are cons'tructed of some electricity conducting material, and may be securedto the base in any convenient manner, as, for instance, by screws b.' When the base A is constructed of wood or other similar materialthese rings will preferably be insulated therefrom by appropriate strips of insulating material 6 interposed between them and the base, as shown in Fig. 7. On the other hand, when the base is constructed of slate or other electricity non-conducting material, these rings will be preferably secured directly thereto,-

their upper surfaces for a short distance in the shape of studs, and are so disposed with.

respect to each other in the, different rings that they may be connected in various combinations, as may be desired.

Secured within-the base A, in axial relationship to the rings B, B B and B is a hollow stud C, which extends downward through a suitableorifice a formed in the base and is firmly clamped thereinby a nut c, threaded upon its lower end and cooperating with a shoulder c with which the'stud is provided. This stud C is preferably constructed of some suitable electricity conducting material and receives and supports at its lower end an electrical terminal 0 which, in the form of the invention shown in the drawings, isconstructed in the form of a ring, and, clamped between the nut c on the lower end of the stud and the base A, is provided with a binding post 0 for reception of the electric conductor E-through which the current for supplying the lamps or circuits is passed. As thus arranged and connected, the stud C receives and supports a circuit closing arm D, which is rotat-ively mounted thereon, and, extending outward over and across the rings 13,13 B, and B is constructed of a suitable electricity conducting material and is equipped on its under side with a series of contacts cl, d 61 and (Z corresponding in number with the number of rings employed, with these contacts so disposed therein as to register with their respective cooperating contacts 8, 8, 8 etc, 25, 29,6 etc, a, u 10 etc., and "a, v 0 etc., in the rings B, B B and B, when brought over them. With the circuit closing arm thus mounted, it is free to be rotated upon the pivot (lto bring its conlat-ts 1/, (7', (7 and (Z into engagementwith their respective cooperating contacts in'the rings B. B B and B and in order to provide for its rotation when'required this arm is provided at its outer free endwith-a,

handle d, which is either constructed of some electricity non-conducting material'or is insulatedtherefrom.

In the construction of the contacts d, (Z

(Z and (Z various forms may be adopted.

In Figs. 2,3, 4, and 5, however Ihaveshown them as constructed in theform. of short studs extending downward from the under surface of the circuit closing arm, while in Fig. 6 I have shown them asformed in the shape of downwardly curved springs, but these are merelyillustrative and other forms may be employed if so desired-and the switch operate with equal efliciency. The circuit closing arm being thus provided with the contacts d, (Z (Z and. d, and mounted on the stud C is electrically connected with the conductor E, and whenever any oneor more of its contacts is or areengaged with awcontact or contacts on the rings B, B, B, and B the ring or rings in which this last mentioned contact or these last mentioned contacts is or are arranged will become electrically energized and serve as a conductor or as conductors, as the case may be, for the current as it is passed forward to the point or points where it is to be applied.

Connected with the respective rings B, B B and B are electric conductors F, F F and F which lead to the lamps that are to be operated. In some instances a number of lamps may be operated from each conductor. which. in that case, may be arranged in series or in multiple. For purposes of illustration however, I have shown but a single lamp operated from each, and this is connected in multiple with the return con ductor E with the lamp f arranged in circuit with the conductor F, the lamp f arranged in circuit with the conductor F the lamp f arranged in circuit with the conductor F and the lamp 7' arranged in circuit with the conductor F, the several lamps being connected across from their respective supply conductors F, F F and F to the return conductor E through appropriate connections 7, f, and 7' as shown in Fig. 1. As thus arr: nged, whenever the conductors E and E are properly connected in circuit and the circuit closing arm I) is so rotated as to bring one or more of its contacts (i, (Z (1 (Z into engagement with one or more of the contacts on the rings B, B B B'Z the current will pass upward through the stud O, thence outward through the circuit closing arm I) to and through the ring or rings containing the contact or contacts with which its own contact or contacts is or are engaged, thence outward through the conductor or conductors F, F F, F,

E and the lamp or lamps thus in circuit thereby operated.

This operation of the lamp or lamps will continue so long as the contact or contacts of the circuit closing arm "arcinengagement with the appropriate contact orcontacts on the ring or rings B, B B B and the circuit or circuits remains or remain closed, but will be interrupted the moment the circuit or circuits is or are broken by the removal of the contact or contacts on the circuit closing arm from engagement with its or their cooperating contact or contacts on the ring or rings. In other words, to illustrate, whenever it is desired, for instance, to operate all the lamps connected in circuit with the conductors I, F F and F, the circuit closing arm D will be swung on the pivot C until its contacts (l, d, (F, and (Z are brought into engagement with the contacts 8, t, u, and v, on the respective rings B, B B and B when the circuits through such lamps will be closed and they thereby brought into operation. Or, whenever it is desired to bring only the lamps connected in circuit with the conductors F, F and F the pivot C until its contacts (hel and d2 are brought into engagement with the contacts 8', t and'u on therespective rings B,

B, and B when thecircuits through the conductors F, F and F will be closed and tating the circuit closing arm on the pivot C until the proper contact or contacts on its under side 1s or are brought into engagement with the appropriate contact or contacts on the rings B, B B B when the required circuit or circuits through the conductors F, F F and F, Will be closed and the operation of the lamp or lamps answering to it or them thereby effected.

To provide for bringing any required number of lamps into operation when desired, the contacts in the rings 13,13 B and B are arranged in radial lines which extend at the proper distance apart from the inner to the outer ring, with the contact or contacts necessary to the operation of one particular number of lamps disposed in one radial. line, while those necessary to the operation of another number of lamps is or are arranged in another, and so on, the contacts necessary to the operation of each particular number of lamps that is or are to be operated being disposed in a single radial line. With the contacts in the rings B, B B, B arranged as above explained, a disk H is preferably employed, which, fixedly secured to the upper end'of the stud G, extends outwardly over such contacts and rings, with its outer edge inclined downwardly and provided on its outer surface with a. series of numerals, which are so disposed thereon as to'bring each individual numeral thereof into line with one. or another of the radial lines'of contacts, as shown. As thus constructed and equipped, this disk not only serves as a cover for the rings B, B, B, and B and the respective contacts carried by them, whereby to prevent persons from collision with them when the rings are carrying a currentor otherwise, but it also serves as an index to indicate the position to which the circuit closing arm must be moved to bring into operation any particular number-of lamps that may be required. lVith the index thus provided the bringing of any required number of lamps in operation is effected by simply swinging the circuit closingv arm D on the stud C until its outer end is brought opposite to the numeral of the index appropriate to that number of lamps,

when the arm will engage with the contacts on' the ring or rings connected with that particular lam or with those particular lamps, closing t e circuit or circuits through that ring or those rings and thereby the operation of the lamp or lamps will be offected. In order therefore to aid in de termining the exact distance to which the circuit'closi-ng arm must be swung to cause the operation of any required number of lamps, this arm is preferably provided on its upper surface with a pointer d, which extends inward over the downwardly inclined outer edge of the disk 11, with its outer pointed end in close relationship to the numerals of the index, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Forsecurlng the disk H to the upper end of the stud O various means may be employed. I' prefer however to employ for this purpose a bolt I, which, passing down- 8;

ward through the center of the disk and through'the stud, is provided at its'lower end with a nut I suitable strips of insulat ing material 2', i 2' being respectively interposed between the disk, the exterior of the bolt, and the nut, on the one hand, and the stud on the other, whereby to afford insulation to the disk and bolt therefrom. The same will also be the case when the base A is constructed of wood or other similar ma- 9O terial and suitable strips of insulating material will be interposed between both the stud C and nut c, and the base, as shown in Fig. 7. I

By the construction and arrangement of may be required, is, at the same time, simple in construction and convenient in operation. "While in the drawings Ihave shown and in the foregoing described a construction in which four rings B, B B, B", are 'em-.'

ployed, it is to beunderstood that this is merely illustrative, and that a greater or less number of these rin 5. may be employed as a greater or less num er of lamps are to be operated. Again, while I have shown and described both the rings and the circuit 11 I closing arm as provided with contacts that are constructed in the form of projections, and which is the construction I prefer in practice, it is to be understood that. these projecting contacts may be omitted from the circuit closing arm and theparts so related that the under surface of the arm may engage with the contacts of the rings, when it is passed over them, and the switch operate with equal efiicienoy. Still again, it is obvious that the switch may be modified in other respects without departing from the spirit of the invention. I

Having now described my invention, and

specified certain of the w'a s in which it is or may be carried into e ect, I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States y 1'. The combination, with a plurality of electricity conducting rings that are s'everally adapted for connection in circuit with F concentric relationship to each other with an electric lamp or lamps and having contacts projecting from the face of each, and a base upon which the rings are supported the'one with-in the other with the contacts on the several rings disposed in radial lines and in Various orders, of a stud arranged centrally with respect to said rings, a circuit closing arm rotatively mounted on said stud and extending outwardly across the se' ries of rings with its under side disposed in proper relationship to the contacts on such rings to engage with them when swung over the same, a disk extending outward over said rings and contacts secured to said stud and provided nearits outer edge with an in dex for cooperating with the circuit closing arm, and means by which the circuit closing arm may be connected in circuit with a source of electric supply, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a series of electricity conducting rings B, B B, B severally adapted for connection in circuit with an electric lamp or lamps and having contacts projecting from the face of each, and a base A. upon which the rings are secured in these contacts disposed in radial positions with respect to one another in various orders, of a stud G constructed of electricity ('on ducting material and secured to said base centrally of the rings, a circuit closing arm D pivoted at one end on the said stud and extending outward therefrom across such rings with its under surface arrangml to impinge upon the contacts on said rings when swung over them, an insulated cover H secured to the upper end of said stud and extending outward over the series of rings and their contacts with its outer downwardly inclined edge provided with a nuinerical index for cooperation with the circuit closing arm, and means for connecting the stud G in circuit with a source of electric supply, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses this 11 day of October, 1909.

FRIDOLIN WV. KURTZ.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH A. S'rAnnn'r'r, GRACE T. DIXON. 

